Just a quick post to let you all know I’m still around, but taking care of some sick kids.  My oldest had strep plus some other crazy virus that gave him high fevers (up to 104) for 7 days in addition to vomiting, cough, runny nose, chills, etc.  He had a clear chest Xray last Thursday (thank God!).  Poor kid laid in bed for six days in a row.  Scared me to death because Joey is my child who typically has a fever and is still up and running around.  He lost six pounds, nearly 10% of his body weight in just five days.

Just as Joey turned a corner and enjoyed his first day out of bed and fever free on Sunday my four year old, Jake, started with a fever.  He was miserable most of the night with vomiting, chills, headache, but thankfully no cough or congestion.  He was seen this morning at the doctor’s office and was negative for strep.  They think he’s got a viral infection that’s been going around with high fevers lasting five days, and also that Joey must have had the strep plus this virus last week.  I’m having trouble keeping him comfortable and his fevers seem to persist every two-three hours despite alternating Motrin and Tylenol.  His highest fever so far was 105.7 and if he continues to be this sick I’m prepared to take him to the ER.  My sweet boy just keeps saying he’s “so sad” and “thanks for taking care of me. I love you.”

So now that we’re on day 9 of fevers around here, I’m going to probably be missing in action for a few days.  Jake always seems to get sicker than his siblings, and just seems to run higher than the other two.  Speaking of the other two, I’m praying Cecilia is spared this bug….

So talk among yourselves, be well and stay hydrated (someone drink a glass for me!) while I’m off the blog, Facebook and Twitter until this funk passes.

xoxo

Susan

p.s. You’ll be happy to hear I’m sticking to my guns and staying off WebMD.  I’m now 19 days clean which is good because these symptoms would probably yield a diagnosis that would require me to be sedated.

p.p.s. (who does that?)  While you’re here, please vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs with just one click of the picture below.  Just one click, once a day to vote for me!  Thank you for your help!

I’m proud of myself.  Truly, I am.  I’m learning to step outside the box a little more now that I’m in my 30′s …at least where fashion is concerned.  I went through a period for a couple of years where I was pretty much wearing the same style day after day.

Now, I’m embracing new fashions and it’s setting me free.  In fact, I find it inspires me in a sense.  In 2011 I really took some chances which lead me to a really great find for 2012 (but more on that in a minute).

The Leopard Leotard. For my first step outside the box, I didn’t take a baby step, I took a God damn flying leap and it felt marvolous! Animal print, especially on a leotard was…liberating.

The Leopard Leotard...perfect for any occasion.

Going Green.  In this day and age everyone strives to be more green.  Perhaps this was taking it a bit to literal, but I hope my message of conservation came across.  I couldn’t tell because I was having a hard time seeing or breathing in this thing:

Reduse, Reuse, Recycle...just like I did with my bathing suit circa 1995. I think it compliments the neon green perfectly.

Getting trendy. By the Fall, I decided that I shouldn’t knock it until I tried it.  So for the first time I tried on a poncho…I didn’t read the tag, but it appeared to have been made from buffalo hide and rabbit fur.  It smelled like buffalo ass, but my trendy friends said I look fabulous.

I'll appologize again to friend and photographer, Amber Shader, who was kind enough to take this picture and then was kicked out of the store with me by the "fashion police."

The Missoni Bandwagon. It seems like everyone had to have something from the Target Missoni clothing line, but was I willing to camp outside or fight a fellow soccer Mom over it?  Maybe I did and maybe I didn’t.  Maybe this is something my great aunt, a Franciscan Nun, knit back in 1976. I’ll never tell.

As Seen on TV. Keeping with my don’t knock it until you try it, I even purchased a Forever Lazy. Not only did I buy one and get one free, in addition to two pairs of matching fleece socks, but I feel much better about still being able to knock it…I gave it the old college try, and it was every bit as ridiculous as I thought it would be which is a shame really, because the name made it sound pretty appealing.

Full Circle. I ended the year, just as I began it, in the Leopard Leotard.  This time, to keep with the festive holiday season, I even added a leopard trimmed Santa hat and a tutu. You’re welcome….

I didn’t want to do the same old thing for 2012.  It’s a new year, and I wanted to continue to grow fashionably.  This can be challenging even to someone accustomed to taking chances when it comes to clothing.  So I turned to the place I usually go when I have a question that needs answering…Google.

Dear Google: What is worse than my leopard leotard?

And just as it always does, Google delivered.  And just as it always seems to do, this new clothing has inspired me.  I’m currently in production for my next workout video. This one has to do with staying motivated.  I hope it doesn’t disappoint.

What didn’t disappoint was Google’s answer to my problem.  Ladies and gentleman, I give you the Unitard:

I was so excited to get it on that I didn't even bother to change my black undergarments. I think seeing them through this fabulous one-piece spandex suit adds a little extra somethin.'

So I hope I haven’t stepped too far outside the fashion box because I’ll be honest. Unitards are way more fun than I thought they’d be.  I hope you’ll stay tuned for where I’ll be sporting this pink wonder suit next.

Do you own a fabulous questionable fashion item?  What is it? Leave me a comment!  And while you’re hear, please give me a little clicky love and vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs.  Just one click is all it takes on the banner below to cast an automatic vote for me.  We’ve slipped to #8!  Thanks!